Masonry saw



Sept. 28,1948.- N, QCOATES 2,450,371

msonmf `sm Filed March-24. 1945 Patented Sept. 28, 1948 MASONRY SAW Neligh Clair Coates, Kansas City, Mo. Application March 2 4, 1945, Serial No. 584,544

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in masonry saws and refers more particularly to a power saw employing a disk cutter mounted upon an adjustable head held rigid during the cutting operation.

The invention is an altered type o f construction over that shown in Patent 2,171,024 dated August 29, 1939, and Patent 2,338,318 dated January 4, 1944, and diiers from the former patent in that the instant device relates to a rigid head masonry saw as distinguished from a resiliently mounted head shown in the patent.

Until the advent of power drivven masonry saws it was usual practice to cut and form ceramics in building construction, furnace building, tile fitting and wherever bricks or tiles were to be laid by hand. Masonry saws employ a circular cutter blade rotated at high speed and formed of abrasives such as silicon carbide or steel alloy rimmed with a diamond dust composition. The different types of saws are for diierent uses, silicon carbide disks principally for open texture brick and tile, while diamond blade saws are used for the harder, closer texture bricks and tile and for glazed products. Experience in cutting these different types of ceramics has shown it to be preferable to have abrasive cutters of the silicon carbide type resiliently mounted so shallow kerfs can be made during the cutting procedure permitting the operator to feed the cutter according to the ability of the cutter to sever the texture of th'e particular ceramic workpiece being cut.

When the diamond blade is used the cutter head must be rigidly mounted, and the rapidity of feeding the blade to the work is then governed solely by the speed at which the work is fed tothe cutter blade.l Wh'en using the diamond blade cutter it is essential that a lubricant be fed to the cutter, no lubricant being used with blades oi' the silicon carbide type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a masonry saw in which the cutter head which supports the rotating cutter blade is adjustable and may be fixed in any adjusted position.

Another object is to provide a cutter head which is easily adjusted vertically on the frame of the machine and after adjustment maybe iixed to position the cutter in any desired position with reference to the workpiece.

A further obiect is to provide a. lubricating system for the circular cutting blade in which l the lubricant is evenly and uniformly distributed to the cutting edge of the blade and excess lubricant recirculated to the blade for reuse and in (Cl. 12E-13) this manner diverted from the workpiece or from the hands of the operator.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

v In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention with parts broken away,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the head adjustment mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a rear view oi the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. and l Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 in the direction o! the arrows.

The frame or standard' of the saw comprises front uprights or legs I0, rear'uprights Il, and a horizontal support i2 which has the form of a tray or reservoir. Pivoted in notches I3, formed in the rear uprights l-I on pins il, is the cutter head i5. This cutter head is a platform arrangement upon one end of which is mounted a motor I6 and on the opposite end a cutter disk I'I. .The shaft of the cutter disk is carried in suitable bearings indistinctly shown behind a screen guard Il positioned around the V-belt which drives the cutter through pulleys on the motor and cutter shafts. Electrical power is supplied to the motor through conduits not shown. Also mounted on the head I5 and driven from the motor by a separate belt is a lubricant circulating pump i9. This pump takes suction from the standpipe in reservoir l2 drawlns the liquid upthrough flexible pipe 2| and discharging it through pipe 22 into a manifold 2l mounted on top of the guard 24 of the disk cutter. Depending pipes 25 on opposite sides of the yguard have elbow shaped iets 25a which extend through holes in the guard and iet the lubricant onto the sides of the cutter remote from the outer Vcutting edge. Since the cutter is rotating at 45 high speed the lubricant jetted against the sides of the cutter-is projected outwardly along the sides of the cutter in the form of thin films.

Heretofore. where lubricant was supplied to the outer edge of the cutter, which is usual practice, the centrifugal force oi' the rotating cutter immediately threw it oil, thus eliminatingv it from the edge of the cutting blade and materialy ly reducing its lubricating effect. Application of lubricant to the edge of the cutter aggravated the spraying eifect produced by centrifugal force of the cutter ifrlconveniencing the operator and introducing other ineillciencies in the operationof the machine. Between the rear uprights and forming .the rear wall of the reservoir I2 is a splash plate 28. Attached to the bottoni of the @utter head and depending therefrom in front of the splash plate is a flexible curtain 21 preferably of canvas or other moisture-resistant material. The curtain and splash plate drain lubricant throwii from the rotating cutter back into the reservoir where it is recirculated through the pump I3 to the cutter. In the top of the st-andpipe 2li is a screen to eliminate contamination from the lubricant circulating system.

Removably attached to the front edge of the guard by set screw 42 is a trough 43. The inwardly projecting upturned edges of the trough extend into the guard and form gutters between the guard and sides of the cutter. These gutters collect excess lubricant and drain it back to the center of the rotating cutter disk through spouts or bailles 43a. Thus, a constant, uniform lm of lubricant is supplied to the edge of the cutter and excess lubricant is recirculated to the center of the disk to be recombined with the lms added through jets 25a. Lubricant thrown from the periphery of the disk during the cutting opera tion is drained back into the reservoir from curtain 21 and splash board 26.

Beneath the platform which forms the support for the cutter head and rearwardly of the uprights II are .angles 28 whose depending flanges are perforated by holes. The holes in the two angle members are in alignment to receive pin 23 insertable in the holes and through a. hole in the upper end of vertical rod 30. The lower end of rod 30 is gripped on opposite sides by' clamping dogs 3I. These clamping dogs are held in place by pins 32 which pivot the dogs to the ends of link members 33 shown best in Figs. 2 and 3. The ends 34a of yoke 34 are also pivoted to the lower pin 32, the front end of the yoke lterminating in a threaded bolt 34h. Bolt 34h is screwed into the blank end 35a of adjustment tube 35 positioned below the horizontal support I2 and extending from the rear to the forward end of the frame. The front end of the tube is carried by a transverse support member between uprights I and has ailixed thereto a handle 36. Between yoke 34 and the threaded rear end of tube 35 surrounding bolt 34h is a vcoil spring 31 constantly urging the yoke and tube apart and tending to separate and release the clamping dogs. An angle member or saddle 3 8 fitted to the lower rear edge of reservoir I2 serves as a support for the head adjustment assembly. 'I'he lower transverse flange of the saddle is cut away, as shown at 38a, to permit passage therethrough of the adjustment tube 33 and bolt 34h of the yoke. The, upper lateral wings 38h of the saddle serve as supports for the ends of a pin inserted into vertically spaced holes 39 in the vertical bar 30 when the clamping dogs are released and the cutter-head is to be raised or lowered to different notches of the uprights.

Beneath the cutter and-on the top edges of the sides of the tray or reservoir I2 is a Workpiece conveyor or carriage l0. This carriage has flanged wheels II operating in roller bearings, the wheels roll upon the top rims of the tray and permit the carriage to be moved back and forth beneath the cutter.

The brick or tile -to be sawed is placed upon the carriage and the location of the cut determined by an adjustable scale l2. Handle 36 is unscrewd to release the clamping dogs 3| from the vertical bar 30. It the cutter head is too low and need be raised a pin is put through one of the holes 39 immediately adjacent the top wings 38h of the saddle and the front end of the head manually raised until the pin supports the weight of the head. Working upon the pin as a fulcrum, the Vfront of the cutter head is raised until the pivot pins I4 are lifted out of their notches and lowered into notches which will positionthe head at a proper height. The pin which served as a support is then removed, the head leveled or angled to a correct position with respect to the workpiece, and handle 36 turned until the clamping dogs 3| are tightened rlrmly against opposite sides of the rod 30. Gripping of the rod by the dogs forms a rigid connection be* tween the head and the frame locating the head in any selected position. If the head is too high, lowering the head is accomplished in much the same manner. The adjustment assembly is released by turning handle 36 in the opposite direction, a pin is inserted in one of the holes 39 of rod 30 and using the pin as a fulcrum the pivot pins I4 of the head are lifted from the notches in the uprights and lowered to notches below. The pin is then removed and the head is again tightened to rigid adjustment in the lowered position.

It will be noted that the upper portion of bar 30 is bent rearwardly giving the bar a dog-leg appearance and that the upper end of the bar is aflixed to the head or platform of the head a short distance forward of its rear end. These two features of construction play an important part in raising and lowering the head. The bend in the bar 30 tends to shift the weight of the head rearwardly when it is manually raised or lowered in adjustment of the height of the head in the notches of the uprights. In other words, when the head is manually raised or lowered and the pintles or pivot pins shifted from one set of notches to another the weight of the head is automatically shifted toward the rear causing the pivot pins to move along the contours of the notches to the next position. This obviates va disadvantage experienced in raising and lowering the head when the rear bar was straight and fastened to the rear end of the head. Furthermore, moving the pivot between the upper end of bar 30 and the platform of the head forward shifted the fulcrum supporting the weight of the head and considerably reduced the Weight which had to be lifted when the head was adjusted to another height. The edges of the uprights defining the contours of the notches have been rounded to facilitate head adjustments, the smooth rounded contours offering less obstruction, resistance and friction to free sliding movement of the pivot pins.

The object to be sawed, as stated, is placed upon the carriage 40 and the carriage is advanced by rolling it forwardly along the edges of the horizontal supports. During the cutting operation lubricant is supplied to the sides of the cutter through jets 25a as described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and slibcombinations., This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments maybe made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is -to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A masonry saw comprising a frame having front and rear uprights and a horizontal support therebetween, a workpiece carrier movable longitudinally. of the horizontal support, a -cutter head pivoted on and vertically adjustable upon the rear uprights, an adjustment bar assembly connecting the cutter head and frame adapted to hold the cutter headrigid in any selected cutting position with respect to the horizontal support and workpiece carrier, said adjustment bar assembly comprising a vertical bar located rearwardly of the rear uprights and hingedly connected at its upper end to the cutter head, a connecting device on the frame loosely encompassing the lower part of said bar whereby s'aid bar moves longitudinally through said device to accommodate adjustment of the cutter head, and means for tightening said device on said bar thereby to hold the cutter head in a selected position.

2. A masonry saw comprising a frame having front and rear uprights and a horizontal support therebetween. a workpiece carrier movable longitudinally oi the horizontal support, a cutter head pivoted on and vertically adjustable upon the rear uprights, an adjustment bar assembly connecting the cutter head and frame adapted to hold the cutter head rigid in any selected cutting position with respect to the horizontal support and workpiece carrier, said adjustment bar assembly comprising a horizontal rod supported in the frame beneath the horizontal support and a vertical bar located rearwardly of the rear uprights, opposed clamping dogs adapted t grip opposite sides of the vertical bar forming the adjustable connection between the horizontal rod and vertical bar.

3. A masonry saw comprising a frame having front and rear uprights anda horizontal support therebetween, a workpiece carrier movable longitudinally of the horizontal support, a cutter head pivoted on and vertically adjustable upon the rear uprights, an adjustment bar assembly connecting the cutter head and frame adapted to hold the cutter head rigid in any selected cutting position with respect to the horizontal support and workpiece carrier, said adjustment bar assembly comprising a horizontal rod supported in the frame beneath' the horizontal support and la vertical bar located rearwardly of the rear uprights, opposed clamping dogs adapted to grip opposite sides of the vertical bar forming the adjustable connection between the horizontal rod and vertical bar, said dogs adjustable from the fgnt of the frame by rotation ofthe horizontal r 4. A masonry saw comprising a frame having front and rear uprights and a horizontal support therebetween, a workpiece carrier movable longitudinally of the horizontal support, a cutter head pivoted on and vertically adjustable upon the rear uprights, an adjustment bar assembly connecting the cutter head and frame adapted to hold the cutter head rigid i'n any selected cutting position with respect to the horizontal support and workpiece carrier. said adjustment bar assembly comprising ahorizontal rod supported in the name beneath the horizontal support and a vertical bar located rearwardly of the rear uprights, said vertical bar bent centrally to have its upper end located rearwardly of its lower end, said bar having adjustable rigid connections with the cutter head and horizontal rod.

5. A masonry saw comprising a frame having front and rear uprights and a horizontal support therebetween, a workpiece carrier movable longitudinally of the horizontal support, a cutter head pivoted on and vertically adjustable upon the rear uprights, an adjustment bar assembly connecting the cutter head and frame adapted to hold the cutter head rigid in any selected cutting position with respect to the horizontal support and workpiece carrier, said adjustment bar assembly comprising a horizontal rod supported in the frame beneath' the support and a vertical bar located rearwardly of the rear uprights, said vertical bar having an adjustablerigid connec- 'tion with the horizontal rod and pivoted to the cutter head forward of its rear end whereby the fulcrum for the weight of the head in adjusting the head for height is advantageously shifted.

6. A masonry saw comprising a frame having iront and rear uprights and a horizontal support therebetween, a workpiece carrier movable longitudinally of the horizontal support, a cutter head pivoted on and vertically adjustable upon th'e rear uprights, an adjustment bar assembly connecting the cutter head and frame adapted to hold the cutter head rigid in any selected cutting position with respect to the horizontal support and workpiece carrier, said adjustment bar assembly comprising a horizontal rod supported in the frame beneath the horizontal support and a vertical bar located rearwardly of the rear uprights, said vertical bar bent centrally to have its upper end located rearwardly of its lower end and an adjustable rigid connection between the bar and the horizontal rod, the upper end ofthe vertical bar pivoted to the head forward of its rear end whereby the fulcrum for the weight of the h'ead in adjusting the head i'or height is advantageously shifted.

'7. A masonry saw comprising a frame having front and rear uprights and a horizontal support therebetween, a workpiece carrier movable longitudinally of the horizontal support, notches in th rear uprights, a cutter head having pins exte ding laterally to engage said notches whereby a said cutter head is pivoted on and vertically adjustable upon said rear uprights, an adjustment bar assembly connecting the head and frame adapted to hold the cutter head rigid in any selected cutting position with respect to the horizontal support and workpiece carrier, said adjustment bar assembly including a horizontal rod beneath the horizontal support adjustably connected to a vertical bar located rearwardly of the vertical uprights, and a pin insertable in vertically spaced holes in the bar adapted to support the cutter head during vertical adjustment of the head.

8. A masonry saw comprising a base having at its rear a pair of spaced-apart posts, each being provided with a notch in th'e edge thereof, a cutter head having pins extending laterally to engage said notches, an upright bar having one end connected to said cutter head, a fulcrum engaging one side of the bar', and means for applying a substantially horizontal force to the bar at a point so related to the fulcrum that said one end i of the bar urges the cutter head pins toward the base of their associated notches.

9. A masonry saw comprising a base having at its rear a pair of spaced apart posts, each being provided with a series of notches in the edge thereof, a cutter head having trunnions extending laterally and adapted to engage any horizontally aligned pair of notches on the opposite posts, said h'ead adapted to rock about said trunnions, a lever having one end hingedly connected to said cutter head at a point spaced substantially horizontal fromthe axis of said trunnions, a fulcrum engaging one side of said lever, and means for applying a force to the lever at a point so related to said fulcrum that the force transmitted by the lever to said cutter head through said hinged connection urges the trunnions deeper into said notches.

10. A masonry saw comprising a base having at its rear a pair of spaced-apart posts, each being provided with a notch in the forward edge thereof, a cutter head having pins extending laterally to engage said notches, an upright bar disposed rearwardly of said posts and having one end connected to said cutter head, mechanism adapted to apply a fo/rwardly directed force to said bar at a point removed from said one end, said bar having a f'icrum on th'e forward side thereof intermediate said point and said one end, whereby the application of said force to the bar urges the cutter head pins rearwardly into said notches.

11. A masonry saw comprising a base having at its rear a pair of spaced-apart posts, each being provided with a series of notches in the forward edge thereof, a cutter head having trunnions extending laterally and adapted to engage any horizontally aligned pair of notches on the opposite posts, said head adapted to rock about said trunnions, an upright bar disposed rearwardly of said posts and hingedly connected at its upper end to said cutter head, a fulcrum lixedly positioned on the base so it engages the forward side of the bar, a dog loosely engaging the rear side of the bar below said fulcrum, whereby said bar is adapted to slide up and down between the fulcrum and dog as said head is rocked, and mechanism on the base for forceably drawing said dog horizontally forward thereby to clamp said rod and cause same to transmit a force to the cutter head urging the trunnions toward the base of their associated notches.

12. In a machine of the character described, a frame comprising a horizontal bed with uprights at the rear thereof, a cutter head pivoted on the uprights, said head extending over said bed and carrying a tool spaced above the bed, a bar hingedly connected to the cutter head at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof, a device on the frame loosely embracing the shank of the bar whereby said bar moves longitudinally through said device as the cutter head turns about said pivotal axis, and means for tightening said device tudinally as said cutter head turns about said pivotal axis, said fitting including a dog adjacent the shank of the bar, and mechanism operated at will to urge the dog forcibly against said shank to restrain same against movement through said passageway.

14. In a machine of the character described, a frame comprising a horizontal bed with uprights at the rear thereof, a cutter h'ead pivoted on the uprights, said head extending over said v bed and carrying a tool spaced above the bed, a bar highedly connected to the cutter head at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof. a tting on the frame providing a passageway through which the shank of said bar is adapted to move longitudinally as said cutter head turns about said pivotal axis and means operable when the cutter head has been turned about its pivotal 'axis to any desired position to immobilize the shank of the bar relative said fitting thereby to stabilize th'e cutter head in such position.

, NELIGH CLAIR. COATES.

REFERENCES CITEDv The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number y Name Date 2,247,183 Bour June 24, 1941 2,377,437 Martin June 5, 1945 2,378,070 Eastwood June 12, 1945 

